Device for moderating the speed of discharge for automatic firearms



Dee. 9, 1924.

J. F. J. REIBEL DEVICE FOR MODERATING THE SPEED 0F DISCHARGE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet `1 raven/'Eon B3 WWE- 0% Deco 9| J. F. J. REIBEL DEVICE FOR MODERATING THE SPEED OF DISCHARGE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Patented Dec. 9, i924.

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JEAN FRDRIC JULES REIBEL, OF CHATELLERAULT, .FR-ANGE, ASSIGNOR T LTAT FRANCAIS, DEPARTMENT DE LA GUERRE, REPRSENT PAR LE MINISTRE DE] LA GUERRE.

:DEVICE For. MODERATING THE srnnn on DISCHARGE Fon AUTOMATIC nIREARMs.

Application led August 6, 1923. Serial No. 656,071.

, Be it known that l, JEAN FRDRTC JLns RIBL, a lcitizen of the French Republic, l residing 60 Boulevard Blossa'c, Chatellerault, Vienne, France, have invented new and useful Improvements inv a Device for Moderating the Speed of Discharge for Automatic Firearms, of Which the followis the specification.

VThis invention relates to a device adapted to slow down the speed of tiring of automatic tire-arms.l y

In such fire-arms, the speed of tiring de- -pends in fact on the inertia of the breechbloclr on the one hand, -on the characteristic features ofthe resilient returning member of the said breech-block, on the other hand, and finally on the passive resistances.

The speed of firing of an automatic irearm could therefore be determined by a judicious choice of the characteristic features of the breech-block and of the returning spring, if the other conditions of construction did not rigorously limit this choice. Automatic lire-arms exist in which the speed of firing depends, besides the above mentioned factors, on the characteristic features of .auxiliary members, the only condition of construction of Which is provided by the speed of firing chosen for the firearm under consideration.

On the other hand, it is obvious that since thisspeed of firing depends however on the .factors first indicated, such an arrangement can 4serve only for moderating the'speed of firing and ldoes not permit its acceleration. The device forming the subject-matter of the invention is classified` in this category of apparatus for moderating the speed of firing, and is characterized in that the period ofthe reciprocating movement of the breech-block `depends on the period of the .sustained oscillations `of a system composed of :aimass movable on a determinedtrajectory and of a resilient returning member for this mass, the energy for sustaining the oscillations of the said system being supplied by the recoil of the breech-block, corfgen erally speaking, ofthe driving memberl Of course, the mechanica-l realization of the system movable massereturning member can give rise to numerous modifications capable of differing for instance: v

(a) by the form of the trajectory iniposed to the movable mass: straight line, circumference or any other plane or sken curve;

(Z9) by the type of resilient returning' member used: springs of all kinds, pneu` matic or hydropneumatic devices;

(c) by the means used for rendering rigid together, during a variable time and range of movement, the movable mass and thel breech-block, during the driving stroke oi' the latter;

(d) by the means used for causing the period of the reciprocating movement of th(` breech-block to coincide With that of the os cillation of the movable mass.

In order that the invention may be easily understood and to clearly point out the essential characteristic feature 4above indicated7 a form of construction is illustrated by Way of example only, in the accompanying drawing.

Figs. l and 2 are explanatory diagrams of the mechanism. Y

Figs. 3 and t are tivo elevations, partly in sectioinof the device mounted on an automatic lire-arm in IWhich the breechlbloclr is controlled by a piston subjected .to the action of the gases.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of detached parts.

The form of construction illustrated more particularly characterized in that:

(a) the trajectory of the movable mass is rectilinear (b) the resilient returning member is a Spring;

(c) the movable mass is provided wvifth a nose piece which allows it to be drawn along by the breech-block, during its driving stroke, 'and te separate therefrom nner the abutting of this latter, or after withdrawal of the nose piece,

(d) the breech-block or the driving meinber is provided with a stop tenon, which, at the end of the recoil of the said breechblock, engages with a trigger, the tripping of the latter being controlled by the return of the movable mass, under the action of its returning spring; the movable mass constitutes therefore from this fact an automatic trigger and will be designated by this term hereafter.

Referring to the diagrams of Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that 1 designates a tumbler on which acts a spring 2 which constantly tends to compel it to take the position of engagement with the tenon 3 of the breechblocl; 4 (position illustrated in Fig. 1). At rest, the tumbler 1 is held in withdrawn position by the trigger 5, brought back by the spring 6, and the nose of which.. presses on the nose 8 of the tumbler 1. The trigger 5 is, moreover, provided with a tenon 9 which abuts against the tenon 10 of the breech-block 4.

The operation when tiring in a continuous manner is as follows:

During its recoil, or driving stroke, the breech-block 4 shortly before abutting, engages, through. its tenon 10, with the tenon 9 of the trigger 5 and projects the latter rearwardly. The tumbler 1, released, moves to its position of engagement and the breechblock 4 is then immobilized.

The trigger 5, thus projected, compresses the spring 6; then, the latter brings it forward again, s-o that its nose 7 engages with the nose 8 of the tumbler 1, this determining the release of the latter and, consequently, of the breech-block and the firing of the following cartridge, after which the cycle described takes place over again.

It will be seen that, in this manner, the period of the reciprocating movement of the breech-block depends entirely on the period of the sustained oscillations of the system: trigger 5, spring G, the energyV sustaining the oscillations of this system being supplied by the recoil of the breech-block.

The period of the oscillations of the system under consideration depending on the mass of the trigger 5 and on the characteristic features of the spring 6, can therefore vbe determined at will; that is to say it is possible to devise an automatic tire-arm having a determined speed of firing.

In the characteristic features of the spring 6 must be included its initial tension; now, numerous systems for the adjustment of the tension of a coil spring are known. Therefore, the device described allows to adjust the speed of firing.

Figs. 3 to 6 relate to the application of the above described moderating device to an automatic fire-arm in which the breech-block is controlled by a driving piston 11 subjected to the action of the gases.

As shown in Fig. 5, the automatic tumbler 1 has in section the shape of an inverted U and has, at its end, within the branches, two inclines 8 which are normally in contact with the tenons 7 of the trigger 5 (Fig. 3). The trigger 5 is perforated with al hole in which is arranged the returning spring 6 which, in this case, works under traction; the trigger 5 is, moreover, provided with a nose piece 9 held in raised position by a spring 12 and which can be engaged by the driving tenon 3, during the recoil of the driving piston 11. The said piston moves the trigger 5, this having for effect to engage the nose piece 9 in the tumbler hook, thus releasing vthe trigger which continues its movement by inertia; before the piston has reached its abutment the tenon 3 passes beyond the tum bler hook, and the tumbler 1, lifted by the spring 12 of the nose piece 9, immobilizes the driving piston.

When the trigger 5 comes in contact with the abutment 13, the spring 6 brings it backward and when the tenons 7 come in conF tact with the inclines 8, the tumbler 1 is lowered and the piston 11 is again released.

It is obvious that the initial tension of the spring 6 may also be caused to vary, for theV purpose of modifying the speed of firing, as previously indicated.

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an automatic fire arm, a system the sustained oscillations of which act for gii7H ing av determined period to the reciprocating movement of the breech-block of the fire arm in order to regulate the speed of firing oi' the same, the said system comprising a mass movable on a rectilinear trajectory and subjected to the action of the breech block and of a returning spring, a. pivoted tumbler, a stop tenon being provided on the breechblock of the tire-arm so that the said tenon engages with said tumbler when the breechblock is at the end of its driving stroke, the said tumbler being released under the action of the movable mass when it is brought back by its spring, the said movable mass thus constituting an automatic triggerr 2. In an automatic tire arm, a system the sustained oscillations of which act for giving a determined period to the reciprocating movement of the breech-block of the fire arm in order to regulate the speed of tiring of the same, the said system comprising a mass movable on a rectilinear projectory and subjected to the action of the breech block and of a returning spring, a nose piece pivoted on the mass and subjected to the action of a spring, a piv'oted tumbler under which the movable mass can engage, a stop tenon arranged on the breech-block for striking tumbler, move the latter downward and re-` aganst the nose piece of the movable mass lease the breech block, when the said movand engaging with the tumbler' when the able mass s brought back by its spring. 10 movable mass is engaged under the said tum- In testimony whereof I have signed my bler, nelnes on this tumbler, other molines name to this specicaton.

arranged on the movable mass in such a manner as to engage with the inclines of the JEAN FREDERIC JULES REIBEL. 

